Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
THREE key players will be missing in action through suspension when Scottland host traditional giants, Highlanders, in the only Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match set for Sunday.
Scottland vice-captain and former Highlanders vice-captain, Peter Muduhwa, was red carded in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Ngezi Platinum Stars at the Baobab.
He will start serving his two-match ban against his former side.
Muduhwa becomes the first Scottland player to serve suspension since MatchDay 8 when midfielder, Fredrick Ansa Botchway, missed the trip to ZPC Kariba after accumulating three yellow cards.
Highlanders will travel to Harare without Arthur Ndlovu and Mason Mushore who both accumulated their third yellow cards during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Greenfuel at Barbourfields. It is the second suspension for Mushore this season after he was forced to sit out Highlanders’ MatchDay 9 clash at home to Triangle for three yellow cards.
Highlanders are visiting Harare for only the third time this season having beaten Yadah 2-0 at the Heart Stadium on May 3 and settling for a goalless draw against Dynamos at Rufaro a month later.
Sunday’s clash pits two teams that won crucial matches at the weekend after lengthy winless runs that left them further from the pacesetters, reigning champions Simba Bhora and newcomers MWOS.
Newcomers Scottland came from behind to beat Ngezi Platinum 2-1 at the Baobab last Saturday for their first win outside of Harare and played the last 60 minutes with 10 men following the expulsion of Muduhwa.
At Barbourfields, Highlanders edged Greenfuel 1-0 for only their sixth win in 20 matches as they trail the leading duo by 13 points.
While Highlanders travel to Harare as heavyweights, Scottland have pressure to bring joy to their fans after a disappointing run of results at Rufaro where their last two matches ended in defeat against TelOne (0-1) and CAPS United (0-1).
Faced with the disappointing results, Scottland made adjustments to their squad by bringing in Malawian international striker Khuda Ike Myaba and Namibian national team midfielder, Moses Shidolo.
Shidolo made it to the starting line-up while Myaba was a substitute in the victory over Ngezi Platinum.
MatchDay 21 fixtures
Tomorrow: CAPS United v TelOne (Rufaro); Triangle v Ngezi Platinum (Gibbo), Greenfuel v Bikita Minerals (Chisumbanje), Kwekwe United v Yadah (Bata), MWOS v FC Platinum (Ngoni), Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Manica Diamonds v Herentalas (Sakubva), Simba Bhora v Dynamos (Wadzanai).
Sunday: Scottland v Highlanders (Rufaro).
